December 17, 2008

Taking a look at Season 3 of 'Friday Night Lights'

The third season of "Friday Night Lights" (8 p.m. Wednesday, DirecTV's 101 Network) is unfolding in a weird kind of TV limbo.

The season currently airing on DirecTV is nearing the end of its 13-episode run, but that same set of episodes will debut on NBC starting Jan. 16.

Some fans have been wondering where the show went and others have been writing to me, wondering why I haven’t written about the small-town drama. Well, it’s because I didn’t want to ruin whatever suspense the third season holds for fans who don’t have DirecTV.

Given that Season 3 will have essentially two audiences, I think I’ll divide this piece between them. Most of this column will discuss the show in a manner that shouldn’t ruin the new season for those without DirecTV. At the end, I’ll share some additional thoughts for those who’ve been watching the show on DirecTV.

The debut season of “Friday Night Lights,” which chronicles life in a small Texas town, was a masterpiece of subtlety and grace. It was so moving and powerful that it made me cry almost every week.

This season, I’ve felt the return of that lump in my throat on occasion. The show is still capable of being quite moving, especially in the silent moments that follow difficult discussions -- moments in which emotions (anguish, pain, love, fear) can be read on the characters’ faces even as they try to retain their composure. Moments involving Matt Saracen often have the most impact; the highs and lows he’s experienced this season can be read on his hangdog face. On the rare occasions that things go his way, it’s like the sun coming out.

All in all, if Season 3 hasn’t matched the jewel-like perfection of Season 1, neither does it contain anything like the massive blunder of Season 2 -- a murder mystery that almost blotted out every other worthy story line and upset the show’s delicate balance of scrupulous reality and finely wrought small-town melodrama.

Still, Season 3 contains many echoes of previous stories: Saracen’s struggles with his place on the Dillon Panther footall team and his attempts to diligently care for his fiesty, aging grandmother; Tyra Collette’s attempt to escape the limited environs of Dillon, despite low grades and a lack of confidence in her intelligence; former quarterback Jason Street’s attempts to build a fulfilling life after his devastating spine injury, which put him to a wheelchair; the Riggins boys engaging in their usual array of (often shortsighted) schemes.

It’s not that these stories haven’t been well done this season -- most of them have unfolded in an unfussy and straightforward fashion (with a few exceptions; there have been some obvious moments as well, which feel like they were lifted from a much more conventional TV show). Still, I’ve arrived at what feels like an inescapable conclusion: I would be fine with this show not getting a fourth season.

Purely on a practical level, I’m not sure the show is sustainable after most of the current characters graduate from high school. Though they returned for a few episodes each this season, the characters of Street and Brian “Smash” Williams have already graduated. Tim Riggins, Lyla Garrity, Tyra and Matt will graduate at the end of this year. One major new character has been introduced this year -- hot-shot young quarterback J.D. McCoy -- and the coach’s daughter, Julie Taylor, will still be in high school. But they’re not enough to build a show around.

Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, who play Coach Eric Taylor and his capable wife, Tami, are of course compelling in every scene they’re in. There have been some interesting conflicts between them, as Tami’s role as a cash-strapped school principal conflicts with Eric’s desire to win State with the Panthers. But I’m not sure prolonging the show with a fourth season, with stories that would probably seem quite repetitive by then, would do these terrific actors any favors. And I’m not sure a mostly new crop of students would be as interesting as the ones we’ve come to know.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we got more time with these characters. But I'm not sure a fourth season would work if it would take a lot of heavy lifting, plot-wise, to have these people interact with each other on a regular basis.

[Read on if you have been watching the show on DirecTV.]

Without going into too much detail, Wednesday’s episode contains some
interesting developments regarding the young quarterback, J.D. McCoy.
But generally speaking, this new Panther player hasn’t been all that
interesting. All we know about him is that he likes girls and throws
the ball very well. And that his father’s intense interest in getting
him to the NFL is just about suffocating the boy.

An even bigger problem this season has been J.D.’s one-dimensional
father. Recall how one-dimensional (and annoying) Buddy Garrity was
early in Season 1? By this point, the show has done such a good job of
fleshing out his tragic downfall that Buddy is one of my favorite
characters. But I don’t for the life of me see how J.D.’s father could
ever be anything but the hard-driving, colorless bully he is now.

Some things never change on “FNL”: The games are often the most
arresting part of any episode, usually because the writers have
skillfully woven in personal conflicts and worries into the outcome of
the game. And it still can be gut-bustingly funny, usually courtesy of Landry Clarke, a bench-warming Panther and the leader of Dillon's hottest band, Crucifictorious.

Still, I often find myself comparing scenes in Season 3 to previous great
moments; “Is Wednesday’s rainy game as great as the one in ‘Mud Bowl’?”
“Is this Coach Taylor chat with a skittish young quarterback as
powerful as the time he put Matt in the shower in Season 2?” In the
case of one situation -- Matt and Julie’s incredibly sweet romance --
the show has surpassed anything it’s done in the past. But in other
instances, even during competently done scenes, I’m recalling the greater ones they echo.

Away from the gridiron, the show’s emotional power comes from those
moments in which children and parents misunderstand each other, and try
to grope past those raw feelings to real understanding. It comes from
moments in which friends and loved ones try to comfort those who feel
hopeless. Wednesday’s episode, and several that preceded it in Season
3, provides some of those worthy moments. These moments are powerful and
well-acted.

But I hold fast to the idea that some shows should have built-in end
dates. Dragging “Lost” or “Dexter” out wouldn’t do those dramas any
favors. And this season, “FNL” has a valedictory air. We’re seeing the
kids that the Taylors have mentored and often saved from themselves
finally take control of their lives.

Even Tim Riggins is growing up. That should be a sign that maybe it’s time to move on.

It’s only because I love “FNL” that I want to see it go out on its own terms, not overstay its welcome.

I disagree with Mo about FNL ending this year. I believe it will be a wonderful opportunity to develop some new charactors and I have confidence that the writing staff at FNL will continue to churn out interesting stories.

I have never been able to bring myself to watch this show (although I did see the movie).

Fortunately, Greg Easterbrook has and fills us in each week at his Tuesday Morning Quarterback column at ESPN.com.

Based on his summaries I have to question the "scrupulous reality" of kids who were juniors or seniors in season 1 and are still there, or reaching the playoffs without actually playing full seasons, or flagrant violations of NCAA recruiting rules.

Sorry, I know it's not a football show, but football is a central theme and if you can't get the most basic details right I just can't bring myself to watch.

Season 3 of FNL so far has been an Excellent 3rd album by a wunderkind band with a smash #1 hit album, their 2nd release wasn't as good but had it's moments. The 3rd Album has been very balanced and a return to form while getting to show us something new. Any fan of FNL will love Season 3, so far i have been amazed by the regularity at which the writer's achieve greatness. I love Friday Night Lights.

As for a season 4? I trust the people running the show but if this is farewell they went out with class.

I agree that the rival high school story could be interesting, but I'd have to say again that I don't know how they could build interest in the students in either high school if we don't know any of them. The only returning HS students would be Julie and JD. I don't know if that's really enough for the show to build on.

Wait until you see episode 12 and 13...bring plenty of Kleenex because you will laugh and you will cry and that lump will be stuck in your throat for a really long time...Not an ending to FNL but a wonderful way for Season 4 to start..

I've just caught up to episode 11 in a massive tivo session and I am blown away at just how good this show is and can be. And while I agree with Mo that this show should plan to go out on its own terms and timeline, my own selfish streak really doesn't want the story to end. The skill with transition, especially Jason Street's transition/departure gives me hope that the ensemble cast can handle the loss of older members and bring in new ones.

Especially in a marathon viewing session, the warp and weave of the place, the characters; the skill of the actors and the strength of the writing and of the cinematographers is displayed and these guys have mad skills. The show is just seriously good.

Mo, could you clear up the years of these kids for me? I watched season 1 and 2 but don't have DirectTV. Based on your recap of when people graduate, though, I just don't get it.

Does Season 3 start where last year left off? Before the playoffs of "year two"? Or are they starting a third football season? If the latter is the case, I just don't get it.

I remember clearly that Riggins was a junior during the first season. So wouldn't he have already graduated? Wasn't Tyra a senior that year? And Lyla? Weren't they both talking about in Season 1 what they were going to do next year? How two years later are they both in school? And I thought for sure both Matt and Julie were sophomores the first year. Why is Julie now a year behind?

Could you clear this up? Thanks!

(on a completely separate note...do you know if Landry's dad's actor -- Glenn Morshower -- will be making an appearance in 24 this season? He's the only one besides Jack to be in every one)

Mo here: No idea bout Glenn on 24, sorry!

They were purposely vague about what year the players were, especially in Season 1. From what I can tell in Season 3, when they have been more specific about what year everyone is, Tim, Lyla, Tyra, Matt and also I think Landry are graduating.

The only one that has not made any allusions to being a senior is Julie. From what I understand she's not a senior yet. If anyone can document what year she is, I'd appreciate a link to that info, etc.

Season 3 does not pick up where Season 2 left off. It starts with a new school year. So essentially each season has been one entire football season. Which would make Riggins and Street sophomores when the show begain, which seems a little nuts but who knows, maybe they flunked a few grades...

I didn't watch Friday Night Lights until a friend shoved the DVDs in my hand and now I just never want it to end. I understand that my favorite characters (Tim, Tyra, Matt) all have to graduate and move on but the writers on this show make me believe that these are real people and real people's lives don't end after high school!!

I have stopped watching other shows b/c they aren't as good as FNL and I will be upset without another season...or 2

FNL has been great... what sucks is Matt Saracen getting replaced as QB1 on his senior year!!!! Even When JD is better than him, I believe they'll still win state with #7 on QB1...And when Saracen graduates, that's the time #12 can shine on his own...he has 3 more years... this arc sucks!!!

I have to disagree with your suggestion that a 4th season of FNL would be pointless. You ask how we would get to know new students? I say we'd get to know them the same way we came to know Matt, Smash, Tim and Jason. Remember, we didn't know any of them the first season either. We've already been introduced to a couple of newer students with JD and the running back who took over Smash's position. He was only in the one episode, but there's potential there for sure.

Or, Coach moves to another school and we get brand new faces. I, for one, would love for that to happen. Just think of all the new possibilities!

Just watched episode 12 and the college essay that Landry coaxed out of Tyra was exquisite. Even though one could see where that plot piece was heading, the actual result was a credit to the writers and the actors.

Very well written article here - sorry I'm late to the party. Watched the season ender last night, and all I can say is that if it was the series ender, then I'm very happy with what happened. There's enough intrigue to probably develop a 4th season, especially with Coach Taylor. But, it was a very fitting end to the senior class, and made me proud to be a fan.

If you watch the season 3 ender closely, you can clearly tell that a season 4 is coming. Matt decides to stay in Dillon to take care of his grandmother, Tim talks to Billy about working in the auto shop, Coach will be at East Dillon High and play against Dillon High. What a great rivalry! I can just picture a scene of where the Dillon players come to Coach to tell them that they will play for his East Dillon team (Without JD of course). Julie and Landry are still juniors! Guarantee! Only character i can see leaving is Tyra.

I love this show......I changed my satellite provider just to be able to watch it on the 101 network. I love the current characters, but with the new school opening, it would be easy to add some new ones.

What a motivated man….u almost made me think on that topic. I must say your knowledge on the topic is vast…the insight you have provided is simply unique, never heard of before. I would like to applaud you on the amazing work you have done…Thnx!!!

That is why he emphasized again. However, I would like to highlight here is that he as a minister and being paid as high as a CEO package, should he questions his own capabilities and his ministry of what has done to address all the housing problem highlighted by the people. Can Mr Mah in future, increase the price of HDB Generic Soma (which is good for the current home owner) and still make the new HDB affordable to the next generation? What this imply is that as the value of your (current home owner) flat increases, DON?T FORGET THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOUR KIDS (NEXT GENERATION) HAS TO FORK OUT FOR THE NEW FLATS. Don?t think either PAP or WP would be able to come out with a good solution. BUT if we keep supporting the current HDB policy, we will only has to bear the consequences we are facing now. Have anyone noticed, when the property market is HOT, HDB always launched BTO flats/ Executive condominium. It is more expensive and I would say more profitable for HDB. Please show us statistic if this statement is untrue.Generic Soma

All PAP new candidates or I should say GRC new members are getting something from nothing. And this 'nothing' is costing the Singapore $15k per month for EACH NEW MP which want to serve people by learning on the ground. Darvocet N
At the same time, they are holding a Full-time day job. How much time they can help the residents and not mentioning country's policy. For country's policies, they will let the Minister to worry as is not their primary job. For residents problems, they have RC, CCC and other volunteers to write on behalf of them. So tell me, why we need 87 MPs and cost Singapore millions of dollars to pay PAP or just another way to concrete your own political empire at the expense of all Singaporean.
Darvocet N

I hope Friday Night Lights doesn't get such a big build-up that it let's people down somehow. There's always that danger when people rave about something. That being said, I agree with everything you've said and it is truly the most AMAZING show. I don't know what it is about the characters or the acting, but my heart literally aches or rejoices based on what's happening in the story. BTW, I hate football but I LOVE this show! And, note to the misinformed: this is not really a "teenage" show. There are teenage characters, whom I love, but the adult characters are just as compelling, if not moreso.

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This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog
especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.

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